Maharlika intervention to help ensure PH food security--Romualdez
At A Glance
- House Speaker Martin Romualdez spoke favorably of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) on Tuesday, Dec. 12, as an instrument for ensuring the country's food security.
(MANILA BULLETIN)
House Speaker Martin Romualdez spoke favorably of the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) on Tuesday, Dec. 12, as an instrument for ensuring the country’s food security.
“We are trying to look at ways to boost our rice self-sufficiency and production because in our eyes, rice or food security is national security,” Romualdez said in a speech during his Christmas party for House reporters.
The Speaker said he already discussed this matter with Rafael Jose Consing Jr., the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC).
MIC serves as the primary vehicle for mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investments in transactions aimed at generating optimal returns on investments.
According to Romualdez, Consing is “very much interested to do PPPs (Public-Private Partnerships) for this particular endeavor”.
One infrastructure project being looked at is the retrofitting and expansion of Magat Dam, located at the boundary between the provinces of Ifugao and Isabela.
Romualdez explained that this project may lead to the doubling of rice production in North Luzon.
According to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Magat Dam primarily serves as a source of irrigation water and a provider of hydroelectric power.
“We’ll be putting in more funds to build more dams, reservoirs, solar irrigation systems,” the House leader added.
Romualdez noted that food security is one of the three legacy projects of President Marcos
The other legacy projects are aimed at quality health care and affordable housing for poor Filipinos. --Dexter Barro II